NEWSLETTER July 2010

First things first. I regret to relate the passing of Fiona Beale who was a stalwart in a love of the River and a care for its well being. She was a member for 32 years and a source of knowledge and trenchant comment in our Committee. We will miss her.

It leaves a gap in our ranks which another member might like fo fill. Please call me if so.

In planning matters, like London buses, troubles come in bunches and so we had two vexatious Planning problems about the same time around Easter.

GWEEK BOATYARD

After another three years, the Planning Inspector got round to having an Inquiry into the Appeal by the Yard against the Enforcement Order to remove its unauthorised extension some ten years ago. Expecting to last three days, it went on for six, starting at Helston and ending in Scorrier in April (???). My view can be summarised as supporting the existence and importance of the boatyard to the River but against the flouting of Regulations when expanding its area some ten years ago. The Appeal decision has just been received as I write.The Appeal fails except for a minor exception, the claim for costs is rejected and the deemed Planning Application refused .

HELFORD QUAY and ACCESS ROAD.

Eight years have passed since this was proposed, followed by extreme dissension within our Association as to its worth to the River. We had an Extraordinary General Meeting, which showed a two-thirds approval but some vehement opposition. The then Council Approved the Planning Application, which was quashed by a Judicial Review on one point out of the eight Appealed against. It now appears that point – whether the Natural England condition not to use the beach approach by the Fishermen could be enforced – has been resolved and Cornwall Council are reconsidering the Planning Application.

Otherwise in Helford, the Application to convert the Shipwright’s Arms into a a private dwelling is still, after a year, pending by the Council.

ANNA MARIA CREEK

After 5 years of continuous proactive pressure by this Association we have succeeded in getting the Council’s Enforcement Team to take effective action against attempts to establish illicit residential use of boats on the foreshore. An Enforcement Notice was issued and served in April covering Anna Maria creek. This then came into force as an Enforcement Order on 21st June 2010 from which date it has become an offence for any person to use a boat at this designated location for residential use. Again with the assistance and encouragement of this Association the Counci’s Enforcement Team are now pursuing compliance.

Once compliance has been effected the Association intends to lobby the Cornwall AONB Unit to make Anna Maria creek a special case study area so that official steps can be taken in accordance with the AONB Management Plan to remove much of the rubbish and detritus which has accumulated particularly during the period of resisdential occupation.

At GILLAN, an Appeal against Refusal to expand a creekside house called Spinneywood was dismissed – in doing so the Inspector rejected the views of the Council’s Planning Officers who had recommended Approval vindicating instead the views of the Councillors in refusing permission against the officers advice, showing there can be success in containing undesirable development.

The Council has held as Conference for Parish Councils to consider how to make more effective local opinion, with an experiments at Feock and Camborne respectfully with Local Development Orders and Pre-Application procedures. As a Consultant by the Council for Helford River matters, we need to work more closely with local Parish Councils as a consequence. But this all takes time by individuals who may have other interests.

We also need to work more closely with others like the CPRE and the Helford River Conservation Area and Group. An example of that is the note below.

The OYSTERAGE obtained a Licence to lay metal cages near the entrance to the River, which we thought might obstruct navigation by boats under sail. It is for three years, so we wait to see if it does.

The Preserve Port Navas Quay website is worth visiting to see details about their concerns.

Robert Williams Chairman Tel 340382 or robert.williams200@virgin.net or Polwheveral Cottage Constantine FALMOUTH TR11 5RW

ADDENDUM

Helford Eelgrass Beds

The Helford eelgrass beds off Grebe Beach are well-known for their luxuriant growth and wealth of colourful animals and seaweeds amongst the waving green fronds. Some 30 years ago there were also extensive intertidal beds along Bar Beach, Calamansack, Treath and the Gillan inlet but sadly these have all disappeared. This makes the remaining beds even more special and well worth conserving and we hope that we may soon see the return of everyone’s favourite – the seahorse.

Although the shore between Durgan and Toll Point is a wonderful place for summer picnics the Helford Marine Conservation Group has tried hard to discourage boats from anchoring on top of the main beds where the eelgrass rhizomes and roots are so easily dislodged only to drift away to die.

This is all within the international designation of the Fal-Helford marine Special Area of Conservation and so, with the help of Natural England, the HMCG organised two, not too obtrusive, red warning buoys to indicate that boats should not anchor to the landward side of the buoys. Most reasonable people seemed to find this acceptable.

However we ran into a problem earlier this year and here is where you could help.

One of the buoys went missing and we should be very grateful if anyone knows if it has been picked up locally. For convenience it could be returned to Simon Walker or Nick Bailey, Helford Moorings, so that we can restore it without having to spend precious donations on a replacement.

Dr Pamela E Tompsett CBiol MSB Scientific AdviserHelford Marine Conservation Group

Tel. 01209 842316 E-mail: petomp@bioscope.demon.co.uk

www.helfordmarineconservation.co.uk